Tenth Anniversary in Marmaris

On February 3-4, it was seen on meteorology sites that the Marmaris Region would be under the influence of southwesterly winds and rainy.

The expectation was like this, but how would it turn out?

Marmaris woke up to a magnificent sunrise on February 2. The second leg of the ERGO-MIYC Winter Trophy, which had been planned a week in advance, was to be raced.

The weather was like summer, so beautiful, so sunny, that as the hours passed, the thought "What Will the Forecasts Be Tomorrow?" became dominant.

When we opened our eyes on the morning of February 3, an overcast weather that had nothing to do with the day before was dominant in Marmaris.

The rain was gradually drizzling, the wind couldn't decide what to do, it was in a "Should I blow, or shouldn't I?" mood.

At 10:00 AM during the briefing held at Marmaris International Yacht Club facilities, Chief Umpire Can Giray started his speech by thanking the club management and the racers for the high participation in the south during this period when yacht races have become difficult.

30 boats had registered in 4 different classes for this leg. While it was stated that the instructions were clear and understandable, some reminders were also being made.

Everyone's mind was rightfully on the wind and its limits. The questions were also related to this matter.

According to the club decision, racing could not start if the wind was 30 knots and above and remained consistent.

However, when the course was set, there was insufficient wind to fill the sails. While the light rain did not cause discomfort on the course, the first group start planned for 11:30 could only be given at 12:20, waiting for the wind to settle.

While the postponement continued, the initially prepared course was rearranged once more due to the wind direction change.

Once the wind direction and strength settled, start procedures were initiated.

When the wind did not drop below 8 knots from 115 degrees, the committee announced that MIYC's Windward Leeward R-1 Route would be raced for all groups.

The first start will be given to IRC 1 and 2 groups, the second start to IRC 3 and 4 groups.

Windward buoy distance is 1.4 Nautical Miles.

At 12:20, as the start was given to IRC-1 and 2 groups, the wind was blowing at 8-10 knots.

With a clean start where we could not see the claims of the competitive boats, while the boats in this group were heading toward the windward buoy in front of Yalancı Boğaz, at 12:25 the start was given to IRC 3 and 4 groups.

EXIT and BOOMERANG-UK SAILS racing in IRC 3 group were OCS and restarted, taking their positions on the course.

With the starts of 30 boats in 4 groups given at 5-minute intervals, the course began to witness lively scenes as the wind gradually increased.

The wind, which initially reached 13 knots, started to hit 20 knots at the windward mark position.

Meanwhile, the close pursuit and competition of close rivals began to become clearly evident at the mark roundings.

In the 2nd leg of the Trophy, with the completion of IRC measurements, the boats in the formed groups had the opportunity to see both their own performance and that of their competitors with new participants.

Meanwhile, due to the Club's 10th year in the Winter Trophies, EAYK Commodore Akif Sezer also came from İzmir for the 2nd leg and both raced on the course on Zafer ÖZNUR's HAYTA boat together with his wife İlkben Hanım, and symbolized the club's support.

As the 2nd lap of the 2-lap gate mark race was being completed, the committee announced that the day's 2nd race would be held. When the finishes were taken with the increasingly strong wind without changing direction;

In IRC 1 GOBLIN 3 (Aslan Kaan İŞ)

In IRC 2 MX (Mustafa TEZCAN)

In IRC 3 KAYK APAZ-KÖMÜRCÜOĞLU (Doğukan KANDEMİR)

IRC 4 STUBBORN-SMART SAILING (Tansel YÜZER)

were the boats leaving their competitors behind.

When preparations for the 2nd Race of the day began, while the wind was increasing its strength, two of the boats preparing to race on the course entered into a collision. The fact that there was no significant damage was the only consolation.

The Committee announces the route for the 2nd race as Geographic Route F-2. According to this route; start in front of Marmaris, at the windward buoy at 120 degrees 1.3 nautical miles away with a starboard turn, leaving Keçi Island and Karga Taşı Island to port, Keçi Island to starboard, finishing in front of Marmaris, approximately 12 Nautical Miles will be raced.

Start order is the same again. Wind is blowing at 12-14 Knots.

At 13:50, IRC 1 and 2 groups, at 13:55 IRC 3 and 4s executed their starts.

With the starts, the fleet found itself on the course and was heading towards the windward buoy with strong wind, when in front of Albatros Marina the WIND RIDER-SAILING LIFE ACADEMY boat, while trying to give way to SOPRANO who had right of way, lost control with a sudden squall and the two boats collided. The collision was overcome with minor repairable damage and racing continued.

After the fleet windward buoy turn, they are racing to İçmeler location to round Keçi Island.

During this time, the wind shows differences according to locations. While close competitors generally prefer to sail side by side instead of racing from advantageous different positions. Those who entered the dead zone under the eaves at the Northwest of Keçi Island were struggling to get out, while those who held course along the shores of Mares Hotel were advancing faster.

When the turn was made off İçmeler, the boats sailed out to open sea with tight windward between the islands with the strong wind coming from ahead.

Position preferences again brought advantages and disadvantages.

The boats heading out to open sea struggled with both wind and waves, rounded Karga Taşı Island and headed to Marmaris downwind with spinnaker.

As the press boat, we were meeting the group coming with spinnakers from Karga Taşı Island off Keçi Island Lighthouse.

During times when the wind was effective with squalls, some boats were experiencing difficult moments. Those who couldn't furl their spinnakers, those who couldn't deploy them as desired were showing off in front of us.

Most interestingly, while İZMİR YELKEN and ACADIA 5 passing close to Yıldız Island Kır Point were occasionally becalmed, ALEXSANDRA passing through the strait from the middle at the same time was blowing out her spinnaker in sudden squalls. The distance between these areas where the wind showed such differences did not exceed 100 meters.

Strong winds were carrying the fleet to cross the finish line as soon as possible.

At the End of the Race;

In IRC 1 GOBLIN 3 (Aslan Kaan İŞ)

In IRC 2 HAYTA (Zafer ÖZNUR)

In IRC 3 KAYK APAZ-KÖMÜRCÜOĞLU (Doğukan KANDEMİR)

In IRC 4 STUBBORN-SMART SAILING (Tansel YÜZER)

Were the boats leaving their competitors behind.

The expected rain was not showing itself in the evening either at the MIYC event that would celebrate its 10th Year in the Winter Trophies.

While sponsors and participants were meeting at the party in the club facilities, the big cake of 10 years was taking its place on stage.

The presidents of the last three terms of Marmaris International Yacht Club, where board solidarity has been realized for years, Cem TEKDAĞ, İskender AKBAŞ and İhsan KALAYCI were experiencing the pride of cutting the cake together.

After the completion of IRC measurements, the trophies also found their owners according to the determined results of the ERGO-MIYC Winter Trophy 1st Leg races.

After the pleasant evening, on Sunday morning, February 4th, people woke up to a Marmaris with overcast weather and excessive wind.

The wind was not dropping below 30 knots. After measurements made around 14:00, it was announced that the planned 3rd Race could not take place.

While we witnessed 2 good races on the first day, when the protest voices we occasionally heard from the radios did not reach the hearings, we asked Chief Umpire Can Giray about the real situation. Well yes, those who filed protests either were not following up or generally were not following the necessary procedure. We frequently encountered this on other courses as well.

What was this procedure, was it so difficult to understand?

CAN GİRAY

“Protest is also applied as published in World Sailing's 2017-2020 rule book, just like sailing racing rules.

However, clubs may add or modify certain items according to their own races.

This matter is specified in Article 19 of the Marmaris International Yacht Club 2018 general racing instructions.

The boat wishing to lodge a protest contacts us via radio.

We then announce that they should act in accordance with the instructions.

To act in accordance with the instructions, 3 very simple rules must be fulfilled. 

If they are not applied in sequence, the protest will not be considered valid.

1) The protesting boat shall immediately hail or announce via radio to the boat or boats it intends to protest until heard.

2) It shall persistently display and carry the protest flag on the stern side

3) Immediately after finishing, it shall notify the boat or boats it is protesting until confirmed by the race committee

When these three rules are fulfilled, the protest committee accepts the protest as valid.”

The 3rd Leg of the ERGO-MIYC Winter Trophy will be raced on March 10-11.